Waite alumni award scholarships to uncommon group

WAITE Inc., an alumni organization for Waite High School, gave 10 scholarships to students who may or may not be used to receiving accolades on May 9.

The alumni group caters to students whose GPAs range from about 2.0 to 3.5.

“These are kids who a lot of times fall through the cracks,” said Rhea Halloran, past president of WAITE Inc. and a member of the scholarship committee.

The group honored the students receiving the $2,000 scholarships at a breakfast at 725 Lime City Road, Rossford. The funds come solely from Waite alumni, family and friends, Halloran said.

“[The students] really appreciate the scholarship; more so than that, that they were recognized. That means a lot to them,” said Ray Spencer, one of the founding members of WAITE Inc.

Spencer and fellow ’40s grads Bob Businger, Jim Nauman and Bob Yenrick founded the group in 1996. Spencer was a certified professional accountant who was used with working with 501(c)(3)s, which has helped, he said.

Since its inception, WAITE Inc. has awarded about 150 students scholarships and collected more than $200,000. Recipients of the scholarships can reapply during their following years of college for $500 or $1,000 scholarships. About 14 students applied and were interviewed by the scholarship committee this year, Halloran said, adding that the group judges qualifications like “drive” in the students.

Recipients go on to successfully pursue different routes from university to trade school to community college, Halloran said.

Many in the 2012 group are attending the University of Toledo, including Elicia Garces who plans to study special education.

“I’m thankful for [WAITE Inc.] picking me because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to pay for tuition,” she said. “They actually look at what the students are doing.”

Garces helps with her father’s girls basketball team in addition to working concession stands at sporting events for Waite.

Catherine Craig, who plans to study to become a pediatrician at UT, is another student who said WAITE Inc. focuses on the student’s contributions to the community and school. As vice president of her class, she said balancing her grades can be “overwhelming” so the fact that the group gives scholarships to students in the 2.0 to 3.5 range is helpful.

Amber Self, another recipient, plans to study prelaw at UT and go on to do criminal law. “I’m truly honored. I truly need that money to help me pursue my career,” she said.

She also said giving back was crucial to the Waite community. “It’s really important for Waite to give back to the community and the school and that’s really what [WAITE Inc.] looks for,” Self said, adding that if a student got straight A’s and did no community service “no one’s going to remember you.”

Owens announces Trustees’ Academic Excellence Scholarship recipients

Owens Community College Board of Trustees has announced the names of area high school seniors who will receive scholarships through the Trustees’ Academic Excellence Scholarship Program.

“Owens Community College is pleased to honor and recognize these incoming students for their academic efforts and exemplary contributions within their high schools and communities,” said Dee Talmage, Owens Chair of the Board of Trustees in a prepared statement. “Each recipient exhibits outstanding leadership qualities and will certainly excel as they begin pursuit of their academic and careers goals. The Board of Trustees is honored to welcome them to Owens Community College.”

The Academic Excellence Scholarship Program was created in 1998 by Owens’ Board of Trustees to recognize the outstanding achievements of graduating high school seniors. Each recipient will receive a $2,000 two-year scholarship.

According to Owens Community College, each scholarship is available for four consecutive semesters with applicants being enrolled full-time and pursuing an associate’s degree at the College, as well as maintaining a 3.0 grade point average each semester. Since its creation more than a decade ago, the Trustees’ Academic Excellence Scholarship Program has provided over $1.3 million in scholarships to 685 students.

Students receiving a Trustees’ Academic Excellence Scholarship and their intended course of study at Owens include:

19th MLK Scholarship Breakfast: ‘Where is the Love?’

On Saturday Jan. 15, 2011, the 19th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast was held at Central Park West in Toledo. The theme of this year’s event was titled “Where is the Love?”

The event presented by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Xi Lambda chapter is held yearly to raise money for their scholarship fund for deserving high school graduates with aspirations of attending college.

George Rice III, associate director of Multicultural Student Services at George Washington University, presented the keynote address for the event.

“Where is the Love?” asked Rice to an attentive audience. “I don’t know if we actually understand what the meaning of it is. Before we know ‘Where is the love?’ we need to know ‘What is the love?’”

Rice named the three types of love called “eros,” “philos” and “agape” and referenced these terms to King to describe his love for the civil rights movement and today’s generation’s love and respect for one another.

“Eros is the lustful kind of love,” Rice said. “It’s self-serving. It’s one of those phrases where one says ‘I got mine, now you go get yours.’”

Rice told the crowd to imagine if Dr. King had this erotic kind of love for the civil rights movement.

“Where will we be?” he asked.

Rice involved the audience into his speech by leading them into song with past hits such as The Temptations “My Girl” and Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.” Rice said most current popular songs don’t present the same level of love and devotion to one another.

“In the 1960s, our language and behavior determined our music,” Rice said. “Now our music determines our language and behavior. Now we got songs like ‘My Chick Bad.’ That’s self-serving. That’s not the kind of love Dr. King had for the Civil Rights Movement.”

Rice then defined philos, which he said was love based on friendship.

“Imagine if Dr. King said he’s only taking people from a certain tax bracket,” he said. “What if he stated he was only taking those with a Bachelor’s degree or Ph.D. No, Dr. King said bring any and everybody who is willing to serve, love and ultimately die. The Civil Rights Movement was never a conditional movement.”

Rice lastly defined agape, which he referred to as unconditional love.

“Agape is unconditional love and this is type of love Dr. King had for the movement,” Rice said. “Even when situations proved to be inconvenient, uncomfortable or difficult, he still had an undying love to continue the movement to make a better tomorrow for our future generations.”

Rice hopes to use King’s legacy in his mission to mentor young men. Rice said he was a coach for many years.

“My philosophy is simple,” Rice said. “Approach one and coach one. It’s our duty to mentor, but mentor proactively. We need to show our youth how to be professional, how to conduct themselves, how to love and how to work. Doing that will help them develop as a responsible young adult.”

The United Way African American Initiatives donated $1,000 to the scholarship fund. It is the second year the organization has supported the event in its efforts to make college more affordable to young African American males.

“This is the second year the United Way African American Initiatives have provided scholarship dollars for this event,” Jason Daniels, vice president of Strategic Initiatives at the United Way of Greater Toledo, said. “Our focus at the United Way is to promote higher education among African American males. That’s why we’re here for the second year and we’re looking to continue to support this organization and their efforts to promote educational excellence throughout.”

Each year the Drum Major Award is presented to recipients who are very active in the community. This year’s recipients were Phillip Cunningham and Kamaron Kyser of the Thosefellas LLC. Cunningham said he was very surprised about being named a recipient of this award.

“Honestly, I’m shocked,” Cunningham said. “I just came to the breakfast and didn’t expect to win anything. I’m really excited about it. It lets me know we’re being noticed in the community.”

Cunningham added it was his parents’ involvement in his life, which encouraged him to perform his service to the community.

“It was my father who provided me with motivation to let me know I can accomplish anything I put my mind to,” Cunningham said. “He told me in order for me to do anything; I must go out and make it happen.”

Michael Stubblefield, president of Alpha Xi Lambda chapter, was pleased with the turnout of the event and said it’s the continuous support of the community, which makes it a success each year. He said it’s important for everyone in the community to step in to give back.

“Times are changing,” Stubblefield said. “We’re living in a very tumultuous time in this nation with education costs continuing to go up. Education is the key and we have to make sure we’re providing monies to continue the education of our young, so they may step in to help carry and pass the torch.”

Stubblefield added it’s important for the community to come together to honor Dr. King’s legacy.

“It’s important to bring together the community to raise funds for our scholarship and raise awareness of Dr. King’s legacy and remind everyone that his legacy is still relevant in 2011.”